Classic Rock’s New Release Round-Up
A look at the latest records from Mötley Crüe, Megadeth, Cheap Trick, Muse and others.
- Mötley Crüe are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the album Dr. Feelgood (Universal) by re-issuing it with a bonus CD, featuring live and demo versions. Still sounds like consummately glorious trash rock.
- Aussies Jet fly back with Shaka Rock (EMI), a collection of neatly stylised barroom anthems, while fellow Down Under band Wolfmother still exist at the classier end of the early 1970s with Cosmic Egg (Universal).
- Cheap Trick have really gone back to their Beatles roots for the triumphant pop-rock of The Latest (Cheap Trick Unlimited) and it’s good to have former Faith No More frontman Chuck Mosley back with Will Rap Over Hard Rock For Food (Reversed Image) – it’s rap-style modern rock with strong melodies.
- Fancy a bit of prog with a hint of blues-rock? Try Dead Planets New Stars (Red Chord) from Ebony Tower. You can’t fail to be impressed by Rebecca Everitt’s thunderous voice. Muse continue to prove prog can be melodic and mainstream with The Resistance (Warner Bros/Helium 3).
- On the heavier end, Megadeth have come up with their strongest album in years. Endgame (Roadrunner) is edgy and dynamic. While Municipal Waste have moved away from their cartoonish antics with Massive Aggressive (Earache), a ferocious thrash fiend.
- Finally, there’s young Brit hopefuls Esoterica. Second album The Riddle (Trak) moves them further away from the Tool thrall and more into their own progressive vibe.
– Malcolm Dome